This gulet trip interweaves the magic of the Turkish coast with three awe inspiring Greek islands. We cruise on our beautiful 8-cabin boat west from Göcek, to Bodrum, ancient Halicarnassus, site of the Mausoleum, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
The Temple Gate at Lagina
On this escorted tour we visit some of the greatest archaeological gems on Turkey’s southwest coast: Kaunos with its exquisite rock-cut temple tombs, and beautifully preserved Knidos, a monumental marbled city arranged around a double harbour. As well as these celebrated sites where excavations have been going on for decades, we visit ancient towns like Phoenix and Lydae, set in remote and beautiful locations, that remain completely untouched.
We’ll also travel to visit one of the best preserved medieval cities in the world, Rhodes, (a powerhouse in antiquity too) and the neighbouring Greek islands of Symi, decked out in the finest neo-classical style and Halki, with its pretty harbour and great medieval castle.
This archaeological tour weaves together a cornucopia of simple pleasures: magnificent sites, quiet coves, wondrous walks, breathtaking vistas and glorious swims. As with all our gulet cruises in Turkey, delicious Turkish food is a key component.
Taking a tour on a traditional Turkish gulet, our ever changing horizon is a wild, remote and mountainous landscape cut into long peninsulas, deep inlets, secluded coves and pine-fringed fjords. Exploring this unspoilt coast, we rediscover the ancient realm of Mausolus, ruler of Caria, 2400 years ago (whose tomb, the Mausoleum was considered one of the seven ancient wonders of the world). With such rich and strategically vital cities, the area was a crossroads of civilisations. Alexander the Great liberated it from Persia, Rhodes sought to carve it into an empire, and the legacy of Crusader castles still speaks of the epic battle between Christianity and Islam.
A tour in Turkey and Greece designed to inspire and relax in equal measure.
Request a brochure or to book your place, please contact our office.
Temple Tombs on the Dalyan River
Day 1: Our gulet is about 30 minutes from Dalaman airport at Göcek, a pretty harbour beneath mountains on the Bay of Fethiye, on Turkey’s Mediterranean shore. Welcome drink and dinner on board.
Day 2: We sail to the beautiful inlet of Ağlımanı and walk up an ancient track to the city of Lydae, set in a forgotten valley filled with the tinkle of goat bells.
Day 3: Heading west we take a boat through a lagoon into the reed lined Dalyan River to see the city of Kaunos. Its monumental public buildings, surrounding a silted up harbour, speak of its once great wealth and fame.
Day 4: South to the Greek island of Rhodes. We step back in time to visit the acropolis of this once powerful and dynamic ancient city. We’ll explore its small theatre, stadium, and the temple of Apollo.
Day 5: The medieval city of Rhodes, built by the Knights Hospitaller, is now a living breathing world heritage site. We’ll wander through the moat beneath mighty fortifications, to the Palace of the Grandmaster with its splendid archaeological museum. Time to shop and explore the streets of the old town.
Day 6: On to the little island of Halki where we’ll stroll around its picturesque little harbour town, decked out with fine neo-classical architecture, and then discover its great medieval castle.
Day 7: We sail on to the Greek island of Symi, to savour the magnificent architecture and local cuisine.
Day 8: Back in Turkish waters, we head to Loryma, a magnificent Rhodian fortress guarding a strategic bay.
Day 9: We head inland to explore Phoenix, a wild and remote citadel city, with beautiful landscapes and grand vistas all around.
Main Harbour on the Greek Island of Symi
Day 10: West to spectacular Knidos, where decades of digging, still ongoing, have revealed a beautiful and well planned ancient city, one of the most beautiful in Turkey. Set at the very tip of a sinuous peninsula, this was a city built for maritime trade, and famed for its fabled first statue of a nude goddess: Praxiteles’ Aphrodite.
Day 11: A day of leisure as we sail along a beautiful pine clad coast. Plenty of time to swim and relax in an area known as the Seven Islands.
Day 12: Languidly on to the head of the Ceramic gulf, to wander through the ruins of old Cedreae situated on Cleopatra’s Island. The site is strewn with the remains of Byzantine churches together with an ancient theatre almost hidden by olive trees.
Day 13: Inland on a long excursion to two of the most evocative of sites. First Stratonikeia, with its stunning gymnasium, then Lagina, where we picnic in the sanctuary of the underworld goddess Hekate.
Day 14: A last chance to swim as we set sail west, to explore Halicarnassus, Mausolus’s great capital city, on the south west tip of Turkey. A final opportunity to shop, and a fitting end to this inspirational archaeological tour of southwest Turkey.
Day 15: Transfer from our gulet to Bodrum airport, about 40 minutes away.
Arrival and Departure Information
Arrival Airport - Dalaman
Departure Airport - Bodrum (Milas)
We recommend you arrive at the gulet in Göcek (approx 30 minutes from Dalaman airport) in the late afternoon/evening on August 31st, and leave the boat in Bodrum (approx 40 minutes from Bodrum airport) first thing in the morning of September 14th. We will arrange local transfers from Dalaman airport at the start of the tour, and to Bodrum airport at the end of the trip.
Guests can board the gulet after 5pm on the first day. You are more than welcome to arrive earlier to drop off your bags, but please be aware that the crew will be busy cleaning and tidying until late afternoon making everything ready for your group.
Suggested Flights
If you are staying in or connecting via Istanbul then the easiest way to get to and from the gulet is to fly. There are a number of airlines that offer domestic flights in Turkey such as Turkish Airlines the national flag carrier in Turkey and there are alternative flights to and from Istanbul with some of Turkey’s low cost airlines such as Atlas Jet, and Onur Air
Arriving Saturday August 31
Depart İstanbul / Atatürk 16:45 arrive Dalaman 18:05 TK2558 Turkish Airlines
Departing Saturday September 14
Depart Bodrum 09:20 arrive Istanbul / Atatürk 10:30 TK2505 Turkish Airlines
Please note: Flights are subject to change. Please contact Turkish Airlines for exact details.
Booking Flights
The cheapest way to book flights is directly with the airline online.
If you prefer to book with a travel agent, we are happy to recommend specialists in a number of countries around the world, please contact our office for more details.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is a requirement of our booking conditions and we recommend you investigate the options thoroughly to make sure that your trip is properly covered.
In the UK we work with specialist travel insurers Milsom Howard Ltd. 22 Highfield Drive, Ickenham, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB10 8AN, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1895 234 919 • Fax: +44 (0) 1895 231 864 • Email: globetrotter@milsomhoward.com.
Our travel insurance specialist in the US is Julie Gorny, Email: juliannegorny@yahoo.com • Tel: +1 773 972 8849.
Alternatively you might like to look at an online travel insurance company like World Nomads to give you a comparison in terms of price and coverage.
If you would prefer not to take out travel insurance you will need to complete a travel insurance waiver form.
Visas
Visas are easily obtained on arrival at Istanbul airport (or other local airports). A visa costs £10 for UK Nationals, $20 for USA Nationals and AUS $20 for Australian Nationals and must be paid for in cash. Once you have arrived in the terminal, do remember to obtain your visa before queuing up for immigration control. Citizens of European Union member states, the United States, Canada and Australia do not need to apply for a visa to visit Greece for trips of less than 90 days duration.
Istanbul
If you are planning to stay in Istanbul before or after your gulet tour we have included below links to more information and things to see and do.
Istanbul Destination Guide
Istanbul Travel Article
Custom Tours
If you are thinking of extending your trip to Turkey to include visits to Cappadocia, Ephesus, Istanbul or further afield, please contact our office for further information.
